Trousers top finisher



Sept. 25, 1962 H. D. FORSE 3,055,564

' TROUSERS TOP FINISHER Filed June 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I/AISA) D FORSE H. D. FORSE TROUSERS TOP FINISHER Sept. 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1960 FIG-I5 FlG-l6 INVENTOR. HARRy z FORSE H. D. FORSE TROUSERS TOP FINISHER FIG-4 Sept. 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1960 Sept. 25, 1962 H. D. FORSE TROUSERS TOP FINISHER Filed June 6, 1960 5 Sheecs-Sheet 4 I FlG-8 INVENTOR.

HARR)ID. FORSE BY Sept. 25, 1962 H. D. FORSE 3,055,564

TROUSERS TOP FINISHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1960 I FIG-l7 INVENTOR. fl,qmzgy D .FORSE Pai:ented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,564 'IRUSERS TUP, FINISHER Harry D. Forse, 224) Wootls Rom], Anderson, 1nd. Filec June 6, 1960, Ser. No. 34,166 11 Cizaims. (CI. 223-73) This invention relates to ciothes conditioning and press- -ing equiprnent, and is particuiarly concerned with equipment of this nature for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers. Such a device is referred to in the trade as a Pants Topper since it treats only the top portions of pants and trousers and does not treat leg portions.

Heretofore, equipment has been provided for conditioning and pressing tops of trousers, but this equiprnent has been more or less completely manually operated with a minimum of autorriatic control equiprnent being provided.

The present invention proposes the provision of a device for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers which is substantially completely autmatic in operation, thereby relieving the operator for other pressing operations, such as must be carried out on the trouser legs.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is the provision of equipment of the nature referred to which is substantially completely automatic in operation.

Another object is the provision of a pants topper or like equipment which does not require adjustments to accomrnodate different types and sizes of trousers.

Stili another object of this invention is the provision of a piece of equipment in which the trousers can have the top portions thereof conditioned and pressed at a high rate of speed, thus requiring the minimum amount of time on the part of the operator.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a control arrangernent for pants topping equipment of the nature referred to, which includes manually operab1e safety means that Will interrupt the cycle of the machine and return it to its starting position when actuated.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a pants topping device in which the variables are adjustable to accommodate the device to diierent operating conditions.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as stili other objects and advantages, become more apparent with reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view drawn at enlarged scale and partially in section showing some details of construction;

FIGURE 3 is a front eievational view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a plan sectional view indicated by lime 4-4 on FIGURE 3 showing the foot-operated controls of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a plan seetional view indicated substantially by line 5-5 on FIGURE 2 showing a portion of the operating mechanisn associated with a pair of press-. ing plates or placket shoes forming a part of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a view looking in from the side of FIG- URE 5 in about the direction of the arrow 6 on FIG- URE 5 and with the housing removed;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the operating mechanism associated with one of the pressing plates or placket shows;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIG- URE 6 showing the construction of one of the pressing plates or placket shoes;

FIGURE 9 is a. sectional view indicated by lime 9--9 on FIGURE 2 showing the blower forming a part of the device;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line 10-10 on FIGURE 2 showing a darnper arrangement controlling the supply of air from the blower;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view looking toward the right side of FIGURE 10 at the lower portion thereof, showing the operating mechanism for the damper;

FIGURE 12 is a sectiona1 view indicated by lime 12-12 on FIGURE 2 showing the manifold through which steam and air is supplied to the devices;

FIGURE 13 is a view drawn at enlarged scale showing a clamping structure employed for supporting the trousers on the device While they are being operated thereon; V

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view indicated by line 14 I4 on FIGURE 2 showing a guide and support for another trouser supporting member forming a part of the strueture;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view indicated by line 15--15 on FIGURE 4 showing a portion of the trip-ofl mechanismg' FIGURE 16 is a sectional view indicated by line 16-16 on FIGURE 4 showing how the foot-operated devices are re-set by the trip-off mechanisrn;

FIGURE 17 is a diagramrnatic representation of the eiectrical control circuit for the device; and

FIGURE 18 is a diagrammatic representation of the pneumatic operating circuit of the device.

General Arrangement In general, the device of the present irivention consists of a supporting frame on which a buck is supported adapted for being received inside the tops of trousers, which bnck is padded and supplied with steam and air so that the trouser tops can be conditioned with steam and dried with air.

The buck carries an expansible bag, preferably of nylon, which is expanded by a supply of air so that it expands and stretches the material of the trousers taut, and thus accomplishes the pressing of the top and cr0tch portions thereof.

The device also includes a pair of pressing plates or placket shoes, which are arranged to go down in front of the trousers on the opposite sides of the center to press the pleats that are generally formed in the upper portions of trousers extending from the waist band downwardly. T0 -accommodate for various styles of'trousers and various sizes thereof, these pressing plates or placket shoes are wide enough to cover the pleats in whatever position they occupy, thereby eliminating any manual adjustment of the plackets.

Automatic controls are provided for clarnping the trousers to their proper position on the bucks, for moving the placket shoes into operating positions, for controliing the stearn and air supply to the bucks, for interrupting the cycle, either when it has progressed for a predetermined period of completion, or in the event of emergency. In either case, the steam and air will be cut oi and the plackets Will be returned to their idle positions and the automatic clarnp Will reract.

For perrnitting conditioning of trousers to be pressed by a supply of stearn hereto, there is a remote, footoperated switch that can be placed adjacent another piece of equiprnent, such as a leg presser, so that, with the pressing of the legs of one pair of trousers, another pair can be conditioned on the topper.

The equipment provides adjustable timers for regulating the periods of air and steam supply to the buck and -also includes means for adjusting the rate at which the air is supplied so that the equipment becomes entirely self-contained and substantially automatic.

s,oss,see

S tructural Arrangement Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, and, with particular reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the device of the present invention consists of a base portion with a column 11 upstanding from the rear edge thereof and projecting outwardly from the upper end of the column is a head part 12.

The head part 12 has extending downwardly therefrom over base 10 a buck 14 which is a hollow, padded member of a more or less conventional nature adapted for being heated by steam and for having air blown therethrough. Covering the back of the buck and attached to the sides thereof and around the front portion of the crotch is an expansible nylon bag 15 which can be blown up by air to stretch the material of the pants taut, thereby to remove Wrinkles and creases therefrom.

Supported in the forward part of the head portion on each side thereof are pressing plates or placket shoes and operating mechanism therefor indicated generally at 16 in FIGURE 3 and shown more in detail in FIGURES S, 6, 7 and 8. Each of these devices consists of a placket shoe 17 which, as Will be seen in FIGURE 8, comprises a rigid frame 18 with a somewhat resilient member 19 extending across the face thereof which is about the same curvature as the buck but which Will deflect somewhat when the placket shoe is pressed against the buck.

Bach placket is pivoted at 21 to a sleeve 22 adjustably mounted on a rod 23 that extends downwardly in back of the placket to be rigidly attached to the lower end of a plunger 24. Plunger 24 extends into a cylinder 25 and has attached to its upper end a piston 26 so that a supply of fluid under pressure to the upper end of the cylinder Will drive the plunger downwardly therein carrying with it the placket attached thereto.

The plunger is single-acting and is adapted for being returned to its upper position by an elongated tension spring 27.

Cylinder 25 has a bar 28 fixed to one side thereof which is pivoted at 29 to a supporting member 30a: that is stationary in the frame of the device. This permits the cylinder to rock When the placket has been lowered thereby to bring the placket into pressure engagement with the buck.

Toward the upper end of bar 28, it is pivotally connected at 30 to the plunger 31 that extends into a cylinder 32 which has its opposite end pivoted at 33 to an adjustable element stationary in the frame.

The plunger 31 is also single-acting and there is provided the tension spring 34 connected between the frame and the extrerne upper end of cylinder 25 for rocking the cylinder backwardly When the supply of pressure to cylinder 32 is interrupted.

As Will be seen hereinafter, there may be provided a limit switch LS1 adapted for being actuated by plunger 35 adjusta-bly carried by bar 28. This permits the tilting inwardly of the placket shoe to etfect control of the next operative step in the cycle.

Both of the placket shoe actuating devices are identical with the exception of the aforementioned limit switch, which pertains only to the placket shoe which is last operated.

The supply of fluid to the cylinder 25 just described is accomplished by way of conduit 36 leading to a valve in the base of the device which Will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Similarly, the supply of fluid to the other placket shoe cylinder 37 is by way of a conduit 38 also leading to the base of the machine.

The supply of fluid to the tilting cylinder 32 previously referred to is accomplished by opening a valve 39 connected between conduit 36 and the said cylinder with the valve being normally closed and being actuated into open positon by an adjustable link 40 having its upper end connected with arm 41. The lower end of link 40 has a 4- hook thereon which extends into the cylinder 37 so as to be engaged by piston 26 When the piston approaches its lowermost position.

This is more clearly seen in FIGURE 6 in connection with cylinder 37 wherein the hook portion of the link is indicated at 42 where it Will be seen to extend through a slot 43 in the cylinder wall.

The link pertaining to cylinder 37 is connected with the operating arm of the valve 44 that is connected between conduit 38 and cylinder 45 of the tilting motor for cylinder 37. Both the valves 39 and 44 are of the springreturn type so that, when the plackets move upwardly, these valves Will close.

The buck previously referred to and indicated by reference numeral 14 consists of a more or less conventional member having a base mernber which may be stainless steel, for exarnple, which is covered with steam difiusing plates and padding. The outside of the buck also carries the expansible nylon bag 15 which can be expanded by a supply of air thereto. The buck is adapted for receiving steam from a valve 48 connected between the buck and a conduit 50 leading up to the head of the machine.

The steam delivered through the valve passes through the steam diffusing plates and the padding on the buck so as to steam irousers on the buck. There is also steam bypassed from valve 48 through conduit means 52 to the interior of the buck 14 for maintaining it hot and a return path for this steam is provided by conduit 54. Conduit 50 which supplies valve 48 leads to a normally closed valve 55 which is adapted for being opened by energizzation of a solenoid operator 56. The ot her side of valve 48 is connected by conduit 57 with the lower end of a steam chest 58 mounted in column Il. Steam chest 58 has an elongated cylinder that receives steam in the center from a conduit 59 leading to the manifold 60 through which the aforementioned steam is supplied.

There is also a continuous supply of steam to the inside of the buck from manifold 60 through a conduit 61 leading from the top of the steam chest. This conduit terminates in nozzles 62 inside the buck and, by conduit 61 being connected to the top of the steam chest, this steam is substantially dry whereas the steam supplied through conduit 57 to the front part of the buck is wet steam taken ofi from the bottom of the steam chest.

Manifold 60 is also availed of for connecting the discharge conduit 54 to a drain and there is also a supply of air under pressure through the manifold to the pressure regulator to be described hereinafter.

Also mounted in the head 12 of the equipment is a blower 63 having a driving motor 64. This blower discharges into a duct 65 extending in the fore and aft direction in the head and communicating at its forward end with the hollow interior of buck 14. When the blower operates, air is blown into the inside of the buck and this expands the bag 15 and also blows air through the trousers to dry them out.

The air supply from the duct into the buck is under the control of a damper 66 which has a stem 67 extending through an arm 68 mounted on a shaft 69 that extends through and is journaled in the wall of the duct. Externally of the duct is an operating lever 70 connected with the lower end of a spring 71, the upper end of which is connected with a solenoid operator 72.

The amount of air blown by the blower is under the control of a shutter member 73 mounted on an arm 74 that is attached to a shaft 75 that extends out to the front of the machine, where it has attached thereto a hand wheel 76. A pin 77 locks the hand wheel in position, but adjustment of the shutter can be had by pulling outward on the hand wheel and by rotating the hand wheel and the shutter to a new position. Upon releasing hand wheel 76, the spring 77a -draws the entire assembly in- Wardly against inlet opening 78 of the blower.

Associated with the buck for holding trousers thereon is a front clamp 79, shown in detail in FIGURE 13, which consists of a hand-operated 1ever 80 and eonnected thereto a clamp arm 81 having a clamp member 82 adjustably carried on its outer end. When the lever 80 is pulled downwardly, clamp member 82 is pressed against the front of the trousers adjacent the upper portion of the fly and, because of this, it is unnecessary to button the top button of the trousers When they are being treated on the topper of the present invention.

In back of the buck is an expander mem-ber 83 supported on a carriage 84 siidably in a track 85 supported beneath the head 12. A long telescoping rod 86 is connected at its upper end to the clamp member 83 and its lower end is pivoted at 87 to colnmn 11. Inside column 11 there is a fluid motor 88 attached to the rod 86 so that, by energization of the fluid motor, the rod can be caused to swing to cause expander member 83 to expand the Waist band.

According to the present invention, the operation of the placket shoes and the expander for the trousers is accomplished by means of manual means, which may be kick pedals mounted in the base of the device. These pedals indicated by the numerals 89, 90 and 91 are operated first to bring the expander member out and then to bring the right piacket shoe down into pressing position, and them to bring the Ieft shoe down into pressing position.

These pedals are each associated with the operating mm 92 of vaives 93 that serve to connect the compressed air line 94 with the respective conduits 95 leadng to the motor 88, conduit 38 leading to the right hand placket operating mechanisrn, and conduit 36 leading to the left hand placket actuating mechanism.

The kick pedals are conneeted -to the rods 96 extending into the base and are adapted for being reset or pulled outwardly by a p1ate 97 depending from the pivoted rod 98. Plate 97, as Will be seen in FIGURE 16, when swung outwardly Will push the rods 96 and their eonnected kick pedals outwardly and will accordingly shift the valve 93.

Plate 97 is adapted for being aetuated by a threaded rod 99 extending therethrough having an abutment 100 for engaging the plate. This rod is connected with one end of a lever 101 pivoted at 102 and haying its other end connected to a rod 103 to which is attached to the outside of the base another kick pedal 104. It Will be seen that the inward movernent of kick pedal 104 Will rotate lever 100 so as to pull plate 97 outwardly and reset the rods 96 and their pertaining kick pedals and valves. A solenoid operator 105 is also associated with rod 103 and, when energized, Wi1l pull rod 103 inW-ardly so that the foregoing resetting operation can be accomplished electrically as Well as mechan-ically.

The air supply to conduit 94 is obtained from a pressure regulator mounted in the head 12 which is supplied with air pressure by a conduit leading to the manifold 60. The regulator can be adjusted by knob 106 until the desired air pressure is indicated on the gauge 107.

aAlso mounted in the head are a pair of adjustable timers 108 and 109, which time the steaming and blowing cycles. These tirners are automatically operated, as wil1 become apparent hereinafter. The steam and air can also be controlled by a manual switch beneath the pivoted plates 110 and 111 carried at the bottom of the head part immediately above the buck where they are readily available for manual operation.

Electrz'c Control Circuit pressure switch P:S is closed, which completes a circuit to a first timer T*1. This timer has a first blade 113 which closes, completing a circuit to the solenoid of the operator 56 for steam valve 55, thus causing a supply of steam to the buck. Closing of pressure switch PS also establishes a circuit for the second timer T 2, but this circuit is interrupted by the opening of blade 114 of timer T-1. The energization of timer T-2 is accomplished When timer T-1 times out and blade 114 thereof: closes whi1e blade 113 opens.

When timer T-2 is energized, it closes blade =115, which brings about energization of the blower motor 54 and energization of the solenoid of the damper operator 72 so that air commences to be blown through the buck and the nylon bag, thus expanding the bag inside the trousers to draw the material taut to remove wrinkles and creases therefrom, whfle simultaneously air dries the trousers out.

After a predetermined period, a second blade 116 of timer T-2 closes and this energizes the solenoid of the pedal release operator which, as mentioned before, resets all of the valves in the base, interrupting the supply of air to the placket operating mechanism and to the trouser expander so that all of these pants return to their idle position. Pressure switch IS also opens and this de-energizes the entire circuit.

The timers T-1 and T-2 referred to above are designated by the reference numerals 108 and 109 in FIG- URE 3.

The switch plates -111 in FIGURE 3 are adapted for operating the manual switch 117 which bypasses blade 113 so that steam valve 55 can be manually opened, and manual switch 118 that bypasses timer blade so that the blower motor and darnper door can be manually operated. Also parallel with timer blade 113 is a footoperated switch 119 which can be placed remote from the equipment to be foot-operated while the operator is carrying out operations on another pece of equipment, such as a leg presser.

Pneumatic Actuating System FIGURE 18 diagrammatically illustrates the pneumatic operating system that has been described previously. The various parts bear the same reference numera1s that have been utilized previously.

It Will be noted that the pressure switch PS is intended to receive pressure fluid from conduit 36 leading to cylinder 32 pertaining to the tilting mechanism for the left hand placket.

Operation The pants are put on the buck and the front clamp is pulled down to hold the fly in place. The waist band expander is then actuated so that the rear of the pants are supported in the proper piace. With the pants so held in place on the buck, the pants can be steamed in the described manner to condition them for pressing. This can be done by the hand switch 117 or by the remote foot switch 119. Air can also be blown through the buck to expand the bag to press the rear portions and the crotch portions of the trousers, and also to have a drying etfect on the trousers.

After the trousers have been properly conditioned by the steam and air, the next stop is pressing. This is accomplished by the operator adjusting the right hand pleat and then kicking the pedal which brings down the right hand placket shoe. As this placket approaches the end of its downward travel, it operates the valve that causes a supply of air to the til-ting cylinder so that the placket shoe is brought into pressure engagement with the buck. The 1eft hand pieat is then adjusted and the next kick pedal is operated, which causes the left hand placket shoe to move downwardly and inwardly in the sarne manner. When the left hand placket tilts inwardly, however, it operates either the switch LS-1 previously referred to, or the pressure switch PS to start the automatically timed cycle, which consists of first supplying steam to the buck and then supplying air from the blower thereto.

The steam cycle is normally from about 1 to 4 seconds and, upon completion of the steam cycle, the blower cycle commences, Which runs from about 5 to seconds. When this is completed, the pedal release solenoid is operated Which interrupts the machine cycle, returning the kick pedals and their valves to their original position and also returning the placket shoes to their original position. The Waist band expander also retracts and the trousers are then supported merely by the front clamp, Which is manually operated to release the trousers so that they can be moved on to the next operation.

While the machine as described is substantially fully automatic, whereby a very rapid operatiug cycle can be had, the provision of the emergency kick pedal 104 makes it possible at any time to interrupt the cycle. This, should there be a mislay or should it be desired, for any other reason, to stop the machine in the middle of a cycle, the emergency pedal can be operated to bring the machine immediately back to its starting point with the Waist band expander released and the placket shoes in the up position.

It will be noted that, when the machine is standing idle, the blower motor is de-energized as are all other electrical and pneumatic operating components so that there is no wastage of power When the machine is not working.

The use of steam and air has been referred to and it Will be understood that this steam -and air is broadly, a conditioning medium which may be referred to as a gaseous or a fluid conditioning medium. There are occasions when steam only need be suppled and other conditions vvhere air only need be supplied, While on still other ocoasions there Will be a mixture of steam and air supplied. It is thus intended to comprehend broadly the supply of a conditioning medium which may be steam or air or both.

It will also be understood that, while the preferred modification employs kick pedals that are operated by kcking, it is also possible for such control members to be operated by stepping upon them or to be operated by hand. It accordingly is intended that where these devices are referred to as manually operable, all of the mentioned types of operation are included.

It Will be understood that the specific disclosure made is only exemplary of the manner in which this invention can be practiced, and modifications and adaptations coming within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be comprehended Within the purview of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers, a vertical frame, a head portion projecting from the upper end of the frame, a padded buck dependent from the frame for being received in the tops of trousers, an expansible bag on the buck, a manual clamp at the front of the buck for clarnping trousers thereto in the region of the upper end of the fly of the trousers, means at the back of the buck near the top for expanding the Waist band of the trousers and to support the trousers, in the back, a steam conduit leading into the buck for supplying steam to the buck and to the inside of the bag, a blower in said head, a duct leading from the blower to the inside of the buck, a valve in the steam conduit, a damper in the said duct, timer operated means operable for first opening said steam valve and for thereafter closng said steam valve and for opening said damper and for thereafter closng said damper for timed cycles of steam supply and air supply, and means for energizing said blower simultaneously with the opening of said damper and for de-energizing said blower simultaneously with the closng of said damper.

2. In a device for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers, a vertical frame, a head portion projecting from the upper end of the frame, a padded buck dependent from the frame for engagement with the inside of the tops of trousers, an expansible bag covering the rear of the buck, a manual clamp at the front of the buck for clamping trousers thereto in the region of the upper end of the fly of the trousers, an expander at the back of the buck near the top for supporting the back of the trousers, a steam conduit leading into the buck for supplying steam to the buck and to the inside of the bag, a blower in said head, a duct leading from the blower to the inside of the buck, a valve in the steam conduit, a damper in the said duct, timer operated means operable for first opening said steam valve and for thereafter closing said steam valve and for opening said damper and for then closng said damper for timed cycles of steam supply and air supply, -and means for energizing said blower simultaneously with the opening of said damper and for de-energizing said blower simultaneously with the closng of said damper, said blower having on inlet opening, and an adjustable shutter adjacent the inlet opening movable for varying the effective area of the inlet opening.

3. In a device for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers, a vertical frame, a head portion projecting from the upper end of the frame, a padded buck attached to the frame -and dependent therefrom, a flexible bag extending across the back and bottom of the buck, a vertical cylinder in the frame forming a steam chest, means for supplying steam to an intermediate point of the steam chest, a first connection leading from the bottom of the steam chest into the buck =and thenee through the front Wall of the buck for supplying the wettest steam in the steam chest through the padding thereon to the trousers on the buck, a connection from the top of the chest into the interior of the buck for supplying the driest steam in the steam chest to the buck for heating the buck and to supply steam to said bag, a valve in said first connection, a blower in the head, a duct leading from the blower to the interior of the buck, a damper in the duct normally closed to seal off the interior of the buck, and time controlled means operable for opening said steam valve for a predetermined period and for immedintely thereafter opening said damper for a predetermined period for tirned cycles of steam supply and air supply.

4. In a device for conditioning and pressing the tops of trousers: a vertical frame, a head portion at the upper end of the frame, a padded buck dependent from the portion having an expansible bag extending across the back and bottom thereof, control means operable for supplying air and steam through the buck and bag, a pair of placket shoes in the head on each side of the buck toward the front for pressing the pleats in the front of the trousers and normally retracted upwardly into the head, a vertioal cylinder in the head for each plaoket shoe, a single acting plunger in each cylinder attached to the pertaining placket shoe, each cylinder being pivoted in the head for swinging movement of the lower end thereof inwardly toward the buck, a fluid motor in the head attached to each vertical cyln'nder energizable for causing the said swinging movement thereof, means connected in circuit with said cylinder operable for causing the sequential supply of fluid under pressure to said cylinders and said fluid motors for moving said placket shoes downwardly out of the head and to the level of the buck and then inwardly against the buck to pressing position, and means operable automatioally upon movement of both of the placket shoes into pressing position for actuating said control means for causing the supply first of steam and then of air to the buck and bag.

5. The combination in a pants topper of a vertical padded buck, a placket reciprocably mounted adjacent to the buck and normally positioned above the buck, a first vertical cylinder, a first plunger extending out the bottom of said first cylinder attached to the placket so a supply of fluid to the first cylinder will move the placket downwardly along the buck, means pivotally supporting the 9; cylinder for swinging movement of the placket end thereof toward the buck, a second plunger connected with said first cylinder, a second cylinder into whch the second plunger extends, a supply of fluid to said second cylinder moving said second plunger so as to tilt the first cylinder to move the placket toward the buck, a source of fluid under pressure, a first valve connected between the source and said first cylinder manually operable into position for supplying pressure thereto, a second normally closed valve connected between the first and second cyl.inders adapted for being opened to supply pressure to the second cylinder, means operated by said first plunger as it approaches the end of its working stroke for opening said second valve, spring return means for both of said plungers, and means for returning said first valve from its manually operated position to release pressure from said cylinders.

6. In combination in a pants topper of a vertical padded buck, a plaeket reciprocably mounted adjacent the buck, a first cylinder, a first plunger in the said first cylinder attached to the buck, means pivotally supporting the cylinder for swinging movernent of the placket end thereof toward and away from the buck, a second plunger connected with said first cylinder, a second cylinder into Which the second plunger extends so a supply of fluid thereto Will so tilt the first cylinder, a source of fluid under pressure, a first manually operated valve connected between the source and said first cylinder operable for supplying pressure thereto to move said placket to a position adjacent said buck, a second valve connected between the first and second cylinders normally closed adapted for being opened to supply pressure to the second cylinder to move said placket into pressure engagement with the buck, means operated by said first plunger as it approahes the end of its working stroke for opening said second valve, spring return means for both of said plungers, said means for operating said second valve comprising an operating link connected to the said second Valve and extending into said first cylinder adjacent the end position toward which the first plunger moves When the same is actuated by fluid pressure, and means for returning said first valve from its manually operated position to release pressure from both of said cylinders.

7. In a pants topper, a padded buck, a pair of placket shoes of substantial Width reciprocably mounted adjacent the buck to be brought into pressure engagement therewith, each said placket shoe comprisng a member of substantial Width, a first fluid mot-or connected to each placket shoe for moving the pertaining placket shoe to a position adjacent the buck, each said first fluid motor being pivotally supported for swinging movement to permit the pertaining placket shoe to be brought into pressure engagement with the buck, resilient means biasing said first fluid motors about the pivotal support therefor to hold said placket shoes in spaced relation to said buck, a second fluid motor connected with each said first fluid motor energizable for swinging the pertaining motor about its pivotal support against the bias of said resilient means to bring the placket shoe carried by the said pertaining motor into pressure engagernent with said buck, means for supplying pressure fluid sequentially to the first and second fluid motors pertaining to first one placket shoe and then to the other placket shoe, and means operable automatically When both said placket shoes are in engagement with the said buck for initiating timed cycles of steam and air supply to the buck.

8. In a device of the nature described, a frame having a base, a vertical column upstanding from the back of the base, and a head portion extending forwardly from the top of the column, a padded buck depending from the head portion, placket shoes reciprocably mounted in the head portion for engagement with the buck, an expansible bag carried by the buck on the side opposite the placket shoes, a blower in the head for supplying air to the buck and bag, means for supplying stearn to the buck and bag, fluid motor means in the head connected with the placket shoes for reciprocating the placket shoes sequentially into and out of engagernent with the buck, an expander element movable into engagement with the backs of articles of clothing supported on the buck, fluid motor means connected with said expander element for the actuation thereof, control valves for said motor means and pedals pertaining to said control valves manually actuable for shifting said control valves for energizing said fluid motor means to bring said expander element and plac-ket shoes into operative engagement with said buck.

9. In a device of the nature described, a base portion, a column upstanding from the back of the base portion, a head extending from the top of the column, a padded buck depending from the head portion a-dapted for being received in the top of trousers, a flexible bag carried by the back and bottom portions of the buck, placket shoes movable into pressing engagement with the front of the buck for pressing pleats in trousers on the buck, a clamp in front of the buck operable manually into engagement with the buck to support the front of trousers thereon, an expander engageable with the inside of trousers in the back movable to expand the trousers, fluid motors connected with the expander and placket shoes for actuating the expander and for moving the placket shoes into engagement with the buck, valve means connected in circuit with said motor, manually operable pedals operati-vely connected to said valve means located adjacent the front of the base and movable to bring about actuation of said fluid motors, means operable automatically in response to the movement of the placket shoes into engagement with the buck for initiating timed cycles of steam and air supply to the bag, and means responsive to the termination of said timed cycles for automatically restoring said pedals to their original positions thus to bring about retraction of the plaoket shoes and expander.

10. The combination in a device of the nature described of a vertical padded buck, placket shoes for engagement with the front of the buck, a garrnent supporting means at the back of the buck, motors connected with said placket shoes energizable for moving the said placket shoes into engagement with the buck, means connected with the motors for controlling the motors, pedals pertaining to said means for manual sequential operation of the motors by the operator of the device, an auxiliary pedal manually operable for returning said first mentioned pedals to their original position to effect simultaneous de-energization of said motors, a solenoid operator pertaining to said auxiliary pedal energizable for actuating the auxiliary pedal, and timer means operable in response to movement of one of said placket shoes into operative position relative to said buck for energizing said solenoid a predetermined time after the said one placket shoe has moved into said operative position.

Il. The combination in a device of the nature described of a vertical padded buck, plaeket shoes for engagement with the front of the buck, a garment supporting expander element engageable with the back of the trousers on the buck, fluid motors connected with said placket shoes and expander element energizable for moving said placket shoes and said expander into engagement with the buck, valves connected with the fluid motors actuable for supplying fluid thereto, manually operable pedals pertaining to said valves for sequential operation by the operator of the device, an auxiliary pedal manually operable for returning said first mentioned pedals to their original position to eiect simultaneous de-energization of said fluid motors, a solenoid operator pertaining to said auxiliary pedal energizable for acuating the auxiliary pedal, and timer means operable in response to the movement of one of said placket shoes into engagernent with the buck for initiating a tirned cycle of steam supply Refcrences Cted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Forse et al. July 18, 1950 12 Littell Sept. 5, 1950 Bader et al Nov. 28, 1950 Maxwell et al Aug. 28, 1956 Roberts Oct. 30, 1956 De Fino et al Oct. 13, 1959 Jackson Feb. 23, 1960 Brunier Apr. 5, 1960 Rosenthal et al. Oct. 18, 1960 

